The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-06-09

"
,icians tell Us that fully 100000 o. the
nnmber are children, by further subdi'
vision Ne reach The startling fact that the
number OF New York boys Who can earn
their osu living, or contribute 10 il, ia
fully $4,000. quite an army in itself
There is 20 exAegaralion in these figures
These working boys may be divided into
two elssses those with homes and those
without The first comprise about 81, 200
for there are fully 1000 Who. having no
parents or being driven from home by
cruelty, neglect or bad conduct, have no
abiding place except the lodging houses
established for their benefit. or such holes
aud corners as they may fad The boy
With home has an immense advantage
over his homeless brother. for in the event
Of his being thrown ont Of employmon, be
can fall back upon his parents or relatives
for food aud shelter until be finds another
place: yet the homeless class turn out
larger percentage OF smart and industrious
men than the more favored class.
The life OF working boy usually begins
between the ages OF II aud IA, though the
street boy often begins at an earlier age
The problem Of work being presented to
him he usually seeks employment in an
office. Like the drift wood in turbulent
river. the boy is the creature OF accident.
for three or four may start out together
and by the merest chance find their paths
paths divergug without any eflor, on their
part
A we'll known stock broker once told
the writer that he aud boy neighbor left
school at the same time to begin the real
struggle in life. I'VE came down town.
said he, ION the same horse car TO the
city hall aud looked for an opening As
my companion was the younger We agreed
that he should make the first effort. Pas
sing down Nassau street, we noticed a
placard in a stationery window announc-
ing the want of boy. Tom went in only
to find that another boy bad just secured
the situation. AS he tHrned with dsap |
pointed face to leave the store, customer
asked him few questions and engaged |
him on condition that his references
proved satisfactory. The gentleman was
a lawyer, with an Office near by, and as
they came out | learned how fortunate
Tom had been suppose there was a bit
Of envy in my face, for the lawyer asked
If was looking for employment, and be-
ing answered In the affirmative be told me
of stock broker who wanted bright |
active boy. Well, Tom and | both got
places that day. He went on in his line,
| on mine, and in time he studied law, was
TO bar aud became leading pol
itician, finally going to congress. | re-
mained in the street, learned the mystery
Of puts and calls and all the rest OF the
ways of Wall street, and as you see am
now broker myself. and this morning
engaged another office boy, his predeces
sor having arisen to the dignity OF clerk
as once did myself.
This is the history of many man who
Is now prosperous and respected.
A boy once walked into the Office OF
John Roach and asked for employment
The famous shipbuilder, though once q
poor boy himself, was so busy with some
important estimates that he gave the ap-
plicant rather an abrupt and negative an
,wer The boy had met with several sim.
lar answers that day, yet he was not dis
On the walls OF the Office
we're hung drawings OF ships and steamers
md almost on level with his own head
was. the sectional plan Of an ocean steamer
Boylike he examined these drawings with
interest, and then happening to see
piece of paper on the table, he fell to
,opying the sectional drawing. While
hus employed Mr.. Roach, supposing
himself to be all alone, began calculating
'loud.
"Let me see, said he, "that makes a
otal OF eighty six tons OF steel; now four
lines eighty six is
"Three hundred and forty four" said
he boy, imaging himself in school at that
80 it is, replied Mr.. Roach, looking
i the boy 10. surprise, for he had forgot
en all about him. "Who are you?'
"l'm the boy who asked you II You did
iot want one
"Ab, yes; but diin't say no?"
"Yes, sir.
what have You been doing there2' de-
handed the ship builder, seeing that the
10Y had defaced the back OF valuable
irawing, though the little fellow had no 4
dea the sheet OF paper bad anything on
he under side.
Il was copying the drawing, sir; was il
ny harm2'
Mr.. Roach, naturally Kind hearted,
ooked at the paper and saw that the boy
sss good drangbtsman Tor his age; this
nd bis familiAuiy sith the multiplica
ion table induced this ship builder to
oake further inquiries, which finally led
0 the boy b lug given place. He was
ent TO the engineers room, where his
4lents soon developed. aud by the time
s reaches aisnhood young '34f. as Mr.
soach humorously called him. became
borough engineer and Is nos q famous
! q designer.
a. Office boy IN the employ OF a maker 1
t nt,deis for inventors once sat by the :
toss snd listened 10 customer describe +
machine he wished made. The msehin-
81 eramed the drawing and sax defect i
shich would defeat the end 10 view. Be
w "a boDesi msn be called attentio0 10